Today we’d like to introduce you to Aubrey Charnell
Hi Aubrey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began a professional sculptor working Studio dei Conti in the center of Florence, Italy after graduating from the Florence Academy of Art in 2017. In the shared studio space, I was involved with teaching private lessons and reproducing historical sculptures in plaster. While I was also creating personal works in clay at the time, I was not selling as much as I have since relocating to Tennessee back in 2020. Since then, I have had several private bronze commissions as well as selling my personal work and showing in a few select galleries throughout the years. One of the big joys in my life is bringing an idea to life, whether just for myself or when working for a client.
In this past year, the plaster work has started to come full circle by receiving an architectural preservation project for the Chattanooga Bank Building. I was hired by local subcontractors to reproduce several sections of 100 year old decorative plaster crown-molding and trim. Since mold-making and plaster casting is a subsect of working as a sculptor it was a fun job because scenery really changed but the process ultimately was the same. I had not ever really considered making a mold of a ceiling with liquid silicone before and now its just the first step that needs to get out of the way to get to everything else that is involved in the replication process. While it was a new venture, it is definitely one that I would like to do again. It was a very satisfying feeling to combine my love of sculpture, architecture, and history.
As of right now, I have my own studio space in the Rossville Arts District building and am in the middle of working on a bronze commission piece for a military academy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest struggles I think any artist faces at some point is their studio space and its stability. In just the past year, I have worked in three. So I am looking forward to settling into a better fitting space at some point, but as for right now there is heat and running water. Last winter, it took a while to get heat turned from the landlord so that was definitely a struggle!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think what sets me apart is my ability (or need) to do a little bit of everything. Not having just one outlet is truly sufficient for me to express myself as a creator. I am a classically trained sculptor specializing in the sculpting the human figure in clay and then casting it into bronze, resin, or plaster. I love to create backdrops for my sculptures by painting what I call ‘moodscapes.’ I understand that with sculptures, particularly a portrait, collectors have a hard time placing them in their home. I hope that by also providing something 2D for the space behind, we can alleviate that issue. I am also really into crystals and minerals, so I have a series of crystals grown my sculptures. All made in the studio of course! I love adding a splash of gilding where I can get away with it. And after trying to answer this question, I am most proud of getting anything done at all because I always do manage to keep a lot going on at once.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
With AI and 3D printing having its takeoff moment now, I could see the fine arts taking a big swing back in the other direction. Soon everyone will have access to the new technology available in the arts and I think that collectors will soon be quick to reject it. As so many aspects of our environments continue to rapidly change, the slow method of making something with intention and purpose will become sought after. I believe this could be true for most industries, not just the fine arts. Also, it will be interesting to see how the gallery market will continue to shift now that artists can easily gain exposure through their own means.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aubreycharnell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubreycharnell
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreycharnell.fineart
